Mullet Tactics

Can you give me some tips to catch mullet?

Replies:

1. "Have a look at:
http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/authors/leon02.htm


I generally use a size 8 or 10 hook for mullet, but when they are feeding cautiously,they can sometimes detect the hook inside the bread, and gently suck pieces of the hook, leaving it bare!

I find this happens often when I'm using a suspended cage feeder. The rod tip really bounces around as they hammer the feeder, but they ignore the hook bait, or carefully denude the hook.

Try using a fluorocarbon hook length, about 4lbs bs. Flurocarbon is a lot less visible than mono in water, having a refraction index much closer to that of water.

Also try painting the hook white. Even with the hook painted white, try baiting with some bread and dunking the baited hook into a beer glass of clear water. The shadow of the hook inside the bread can still clearly be seen when the light is behind it - that shows what you are up against!!

There is also a theory that painting the hook can hide the electrical field of the hook (note: not electrical current!). All those many sensors on a mullet's lips have got to be there for something!!

Fortunately mullet aren't always so cautious.

The official record for mullet is largely academic. To claim a record, the fish has to be killed. Something which most mulleteers aren't prepared to do.

It takes nearly 10 years for a mullet to reach just 3lbs. And that's the age at which they first spawn. It would seem that the same fish go back to the same haunts year after year, so if people routinely kill mullet, the sport can decline severely as the average size of the local mullet decreases. Once that happens it can take 15 - 20 years before those fish are replaced.

To give you and idea, the biggest fish I know of from the Medway was caught by an NMC member at 10lb 13oz.

2. "Chop a cigarette filter to look like a piece of punched bread. On your size 14 they should hook themselves. Good way of getting them on the flyrod also."